To retire or not retire?

[TNhobbyfarmer]

I think a lot of people on TBN are geezers like me. Tomorrow is is my birthday, 64. I am getting to the age of giving serious thought to retiring. I have mixed emotions. Still enjoy my work but am thinking I might enjoy retirement as well. I have friends who love retirement and some who have gotten bored and wished they wouldn't have retired. Let me know your thoughts. Are you glad you retired or maybe not?

 

[murphy1244]

Better have a hobby or two, Happy Birthday.

 

[zonta223]

I think a lot of people on TBN are geezers like me. Tomorrow is is my birthday, 64. I am getting to the age of giving serious thought to retiring. I have mixed emotions. Still enjoy my work but am thinking I might enjoy retirement as well. I have friends who love retirement and some who have gotten bored and wished they wouldn't have retired. Let me know your thoughts. Are you glad you retired or maybe not?

I was at this stage 12 months ago. what I did with the company I worked for was to work part time. I started off doing 3 days a week. Cut that back to 2 days a week and I think I will give 6 months and finish completely. Got plenty of other things to do so looking forward to a slightly less hectic schedule.
I think it would be a bad idea to retire without a plan on what to do to fill your hours. Research has shown that the worst thing you can do is to retire and sit at home and do nothing. That results in a quick end to life.
Happy Birthday

 

[Leejohn]

Work part for awhile at your job and full time at home. It well not take long before you well not have the time for a part time job.

 

[crash325]

Make sure you have things to do. Sitting & fretting is miserable.

If I get everything done that is in the works I'll be about 160 years old when done. That gives me another 80 years or so.

Merry Birthday & have fun.

 

[mikim]

I had 10 years of projects waiting for me to retire. I retired at 58 with a cut in retired pay - haven't missed the money so much - and sure glad I got started when I did. Seems projects multiply when you have time to do them. Been working on 'em for 4 years now and getting the major ones done, but still looking at 10 years of projects. Flip side: People I've known that lived for their job and didn't have any outside interests....retired, sat down, and died.

 

[TripleR]

As others have mentioned, have something to do in retirement such as hobbies like many of us or it will get boring. My brother retired when he was fifty and got so bored he has worked in several sales jobs just to stay active and have something to do. He has retired about three times since his actual retirement.

I worked six years past my retirement eligibility when I was sixty and four months later developed more significant health problems. I still remain active and involved in our farms, but sure wish I had forgotten about making a few extra bucks and quit while I was still able to enjoy it more. A friend retired in his late fifties and died while moving into his dream retirement home. We just don't have any guarantees.

Like some others, I will never catch up on my projects and my grand kids probably even won't either, so I love retirement.:thumbsup:

 

[JD 4520]

Liked others said, better have a thoughtful plan or you will regrets it especially since you enjoy what you do. Sounds like you're a candidate for part time something and part time retired.

 

[grnspot110]

I pulled my pension at 55, seven years ago! I can find plenty to do, gardening, woodworking, garden tractor collecting hobby, etc.

As stated before, have something to do! Whatever task that works for you. ~~ grnspot

 

[2LaneCruzer]

I was at this stage 12 months ago. what I did with the company I worked for was to work part time. I started off doing 3 days a week. Cut that back to 2 days a week and I think I will give 6 months and finish completely. Got plenty of other things to do so looking forward to a slightly less hectic schedule.
I think it would be a bad idea to retire without a plan on what to do to fill your hours. Research has shown that the worst thing you can do is to retire and sit at home and do nothing. That results in a quick end to life.
Happy Birthday

Very good advice. If you can retire and continue to work in your present job part time, it will give you time to adjust. If you cut the strings abruptly, better have a full schedule planned out. You can only make so many bird houses, mow the yard and wash the truck so many times until you start getting depressed. Never stop contributing.

Good luck and happy retirement;
Dennis

 

[gilbertmsg]

I have 95 days left, after serving 34 years in the US Army. I will work some and work harder around our 10 acres. My retirement will cover our bills and whatever I make will be for fun. I start leave on 1 Jan 13, and after 90 days I'm sure I'll be ready to go back to work. Not going to work my life away, plan to play golf, fish, and ride our horses.

Eddie

 

[jerrybob]

Jerry.......I retired early (right place at the right time) and have loved every minute of it! If you can afford it....retire! I am as busy as I want to be......do a lot of community/volunteer work, always have projects in the shop or around the property, hunt, kayak, quad ride, cut timber, teach hunter ed., restore horse drawn carriages and wagons......and take a nap if I want to. I really feel if you are bored......you got to be lazy. I would be willing to bet that you will enjoy retirement....just make sure you have the finances to live comfortably! Good luck with your decision!:thumbsup:

 

[jveretto]

How dare you call me an old geezer! Why, I'm only 61! No wait, I was 40 only a few years ago! My wife is still only 19. Noooo wait, I looked in the mirror! I guess I am an old geezer. Where has the time gone?

 

[Bob77064]

Happy Birthday Jerry

 

[thenorth]

I would do it, I done it in 2006.... have not looked back. Well, now I dont have enough hrs in the day to get all my projects done... lol
tomorrow is another day...

 

[Stick895]

Based on my limited experience, unemployed for a year, I had more stuff to do, I had to find a job to get less busy. Anyone who doesn't know what to do with themselves, well, charitably speaking, lack, uh, imagination. Reading, family, teaching grandkids, I retire i two years and I can't wait. My dad retired at 50 and said he never understood how he did what he did while working, the only that that stopped him was cancer. If you want to work until you die, well that's your decision. And you don't know when you're going to die.

 

[dave1949]

Happy Birthday!

I will ditto the get involved, volunteer, comments, if that is to your liking.

I would guess if you are asking, you may not be ready to retire. :laughing:

 

[nybirdman]

I started working at 19 years old;planned to retire at 60.I was lucky and always had a job that paid into a retirement plan.
I got my chance at 58 to take an early retirement and jumped at the chance.39 years working was enough.Secret is to have something to do during your retirement to keep you busy.I started a small hobby business that I can name my hours and hunt and fish when I like.I just had a friend drop dead at 67........you never know.

 

[JESSE1]

I'm planning to retire sometime in 2013. Been working 12 hour rotating shifts for the same company 32 years and I'm finally getting tired of it. With my investments I can retire and bring home the same amount of money as my base pay. I have plenty to do since I have cows, land and do all my own hay baling and work around the place. Between showing my German Shepherds and taking my antique trucks to shows I'll have plenty to do. Work out at a health club and try to get back into shape. I do plan to investigate some other type of job. Maybe find something part time.

 

[Stick895]

My dad retired early, 50 years and 30 service years, at half retirement, and he told me about 3 co-workers, all of whom I knew, who dropped dead between one DAY and one year of retirement after waiting until they were eligible for full retirement. He said years later, "I pulled more out of the retirement fund at half retirement than anyone who waited until 65!"